The 100 fastest-growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world were recognized today (Nov. 6) at the 5th Annual “Aggie 100” program, sponsored by the Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M University.

Of the companies on the list, three of the Top 10 were owned by Texas A&M Engineering graduates. Andersen Schoel of Harker Heights, Texas, was first on the list and experienced a compound annual growth rate of 287 percent in the past two years. Houston’s Employer Flexible was third on the list and College Station’s Brazos Technology was fifth.

The “Aggie 100” focuses on growth as an indicator of job creation, product acceptance and entrepreneurial vision. Recipients of the award were selected based on compound annual revenue growth rate for the 2006 to 2008 period. In all, companies from seven states and five countries will be honored at the event. The oldest company on the list was founded in 1916.

Aggie engineer-owned businesses making the list:

Advanced Inspection Technologies    (Spring, Texas)
Michael Beard ’90
Senior Technical Advisor, Managing Partner
Bachelor’s degree, Engineering Technology

AgniTEK (Bryan, Texas)
Antonio Ortiz ’99
Director of Operations, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Engineering Technology

Andersen Schoel (Harker Heights, Texas)
J.C. Schoel ’00
VP Sales and Business Development, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Distribution

Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants (San Antonio)
Quentin A. Baker ’78
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Barhorst Insurance Group (Houston)
Warren Barhorst ’88
CEO, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Distribution

Bray International, Inc. (Houston)
Craig C. Brown ’75
President & CEO, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineering
David W. Gent ’75
Senior VP, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Electrical Engineering

Brazos Technology (College Station, Texas)
Michael McAleer ’92
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Distribution

CAPSHER Technology, Inc. (College Station, Texas)
Kay Stefan Capps ’83
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degrees, Industrial Distribution and Computer Science

Catapult Systems Inc. (Austin)
Sam T. Goodner ’90
CEO, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Computer Science
David Jacobson ’90
Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Computer Science
Andrew Montz ’90
GM, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Computer Science

Chaparral Energy, Inc. (Oklahoma City)
Mark A. Fischer ’72
Chairman, CEO, President, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Aeronautical Engineering

CIMA ENERGY, LTD. (Houston)
Thomas K. Edwards ’87
President, COO, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Petroleum Engineering
Peter D. Huddleston ’80
Director, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Petroleum Engineering

Command Commissioning, LLC (Irving, Texas)
Ken Meline ’82
President, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering
John Hatcher ’82
Sr. Vice President, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Corkran Energy, LP (Austin)
Dennis Corkran ’77
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Cowboy Adventures, Inc. (Highlands, Texas)
DBA Cowboy Outfitters
John W. Adams ’70
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Chemical Engineering

Coyle Engineering, Inc. (Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas)
H. Michael Coyle, Jr. ’82
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineering

D.S.I. S.A. (Antofagasta, Chile)
Gregory E. Hall ’82
President, CEO, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Engineering Technology

Dailey Electric, Inc. (College Station, Texas)
Chris Dailey ’93
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Distribution

Desert Industrial X-Ray, LP (Odessa, Texas)
Douglas Frey ’77
CEO, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Dore & Associates, Attorneys, P.C. (Houston)
Carl Dore ’77
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Petroleum Engineering

Employer Flexible (Houston)
Michael Greathouse ’98
Founding Partner, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Distribution

Forest Oil Corporation (Denver)
H. Craig Clark ’79
President and CEO
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

GEODynamics, Inc. (The Woodlands, Texas)
David S. Wesson ’82
CEO, President, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Agricultural Engineering

GR Birdwell Construction (Houston)
Gene Birdwell ’59
CEO, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineering

Integral Power, LLC (Houston)
Ted Boriack ’85
Managing Director, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Electrical Engineering
Ray Deyoe ’91
Managing Director, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Chemical Engineering

Latshaw Drilling & Exploration Co.    (Tulsa, Okla.)
Trent B. Latshaw ’75
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Petroleum Engineering

LiquidFrameworks (Houston)
Travis Parigi ’94
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degrees, Computer Engineering and Computer Science        TEXAS

LNV (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Dan Leyendecker ’90
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineering
Derek Naiser ’89
Vice President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineering
Robert Viera ’92
Vice President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineering

Lockard and White, Inc. (Houston)
Marc Lockard ’72
CEO, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Electrical Engineering

Margarita Naturalmente, S.A. de C.V. (Jiutepec, Mexico)
Gordon Ivan Townsend ’81
Director General, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Rep, Inc. (Austin)
Larry R. Bloomquist ’79
President/CEO
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Miner El Paso, Ltd. (El Paso, Texas)
Phil Miner ’80
Chairman
Bachelor’s degree, Ocean Engineering

Miner Fleet Management Group (San Antonio)
Phil Miner ’80
Chairman
Bachelor’s degree, Ocean Engineering

Miner Houston, Ltd. (Houston)
Phil Miner ’80
Chairman
Bachelor’s degree, Ocean Engineering

Mustang Engineering (Houston)
Steve Knowles ’84
President
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

New Tech Engineering (Houston)
Larry Cress ’76
President/CEO, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Petroleum Engineering

Path Consulting Ltd. (Houston)
Paul Mason ’85
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Premier Placement Media (The Woodlands, Texas)
David Gedeon ’96
President, Owner
Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Distribution

Sendero Business Services (Dallas)
Bret Farrar ’88
President of the GP, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering

Sledge Engineering, LLC (Taylor, Texas)
Casey Sledge ’93
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Civil Engineering

Stress Engineering Services Inc. (Houston)
Joe R. Fowler ’68
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate, Mechanical Engineering
Tom Asbill ’66
Sr. VP, Owner
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Mechanical Engineering
Randy Long ’75
VP, Owner
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Civil Engineering
Jack Miller ’74
VP, Owner
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Mechanical Engineering
Ron Young ’67
VP, Owner
Master’s degree and doctorate, Civil Engineering

Terry Ray Construction, Inc. (Brownsville, Texas)
Terry A. Ray ’79
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Industrial Distribution

The Payton Company (Austin)
Richard Payton ’84
President, Owner, Founder
Bachelor’s degree, Petroleum Engineering

theBIGzoo (Magnolia, Texas)
Chris Gober ’96
Owner
Bachelor’s degrees, Computer Engineering and Computer Science

Guidelines for “Aggie 100″

To be considered for the “Aggie 100,” companies (corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships) must operate in a manner consistent with the Aggie Code of Honor and in keeping with the values and image of Texas A&M. They must also meet the following criteria:

• Have been in business for five years or more as of June 30, 2009; and

• Have had verifiable revenues of $100,000 or more for calendar year 2006

Additionally, the company must meet one of the following leadership criteria:

• A Texas A&M former student or group of former students must have owned 50 percent or more of the company from Jan. 1, 2006, through Dec. 31, 2008, or

• A Texas A&M former student must have served as the company’s chief executive (for example chairman, CEO, president or managing partner) from Jan. 1, 2006, through Dec. 31, 2008, or

• A Texas A&M former student must have founded the company and been active as a member of the most senior management team from Jan. 1, 2006 through Dec. 31, 2008.

About the “Aggie 100″

The “Aggie 100,” one-of-a-kind at the college level, was created by Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship, whose mission is to provide encouragement, education, networking and assistance to entrepreneurially-minded students, faculty and Texas businesses. “Aggie 100″ is a unique way for Texas A&M University to demonstrate its pride in the accomplishments of its former students while enriching the educational experience for today’s students.

While there are many ways to define business success, the “Aggie 100″ focuses on growth as an indicator of job creation, product acceptance and entrepreneurial vision. The “Aggie 100″ identifies, recognizes and celebrates the 100 fastest growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the world.

About the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship

The Texas A&M Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship provides encouragement, education, networking and assistance to entrepreneurially-minded students, faculty and Texas businesses. Founded in 1999, the center is part of Mays Business School’s Department of Management. The center enhances student education through campus speakers, competitions, work experiences and financial support. The Texas A&M faculty and Office of Technology Commercialization benefit from the center’s educational programs, extensive business community network and the entrepreneurial services.

The center also reaches out to the state’s business community offering educational programs, business assistance and access to university resources. The center is supported by corporate and individual members and sponsors who believe in the value of an entrepreneurial education program and the value of Texas businesses working with Texas A&M University.

CONTACT: Kelli Levey at Texas A&M, 979-845-4645 or klevey@tamu.edu; Lenae M. Huebner, assistant director, Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship, 979-845-4882 or lhuebner@mays.tamu.edu; or Rich Mullikin, Hollinden Marketing, 925-779-9115 or rich.mullikin@sbcglobal.net.

Popularity: unranked [?]

To help prepare students for careers in the energy industry, the Halliburton Foundation has endowed an engineering faculty chair at Texas A&M University.

Former students and friends of the university working at Halliburton contributed funds to the $1 million pledge.

Dave Lesar (center), Halliburton chairman, president and chief executive officer, was hosted on campus Sept. 29 by G. Kemble Bennett (right), vice chancellor and dean of engineering, and Eddie J. Davis, president of the Texas A&M Foundation.

“We are most appreciative to Halliburton and its employees for choosing to make a wise investment in the future through this gift,” said Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “This endowment will provide the means to keep Texas A&M competitive in recruiting and retaining top faculty members who will enhance the educational experience of countless students studying under holders of the Halliburton Chair Professor.”

Endowed faculty chairs are among the most important resources available to universities in recruiting and retaining distinguished faculty at the top of their profession. Distributions from the endowment can fund a variety of educational enrichments including student support, faculty development, curriculum enhancement and research initiatives.

“Our partnership with Texas A&M is strong and long-standing,” said Dave Lesar, Halliburton chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Texas A&M continues to be a top recruiting school for Halliburton in the number of students joining the company straight from university.”

Halliburton’s giving to Texas A&M totals $6.8 million since 1981, including $1.75 million to the Look College and its departments.

The Halliburton Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting educational and charitable purposes, was established in 1965 and supports U.S. education at all levels, through employee matching gifts, direct grants and scholarships. In 2008, the Halliburton Foundation contributed $2.9 million to enhance educational opportunities at K-12 and higher educational institutions.

“Halliburton has been a fantastic corporate partner over the years. This gift is just one more example of their outstanding support of higher education,” said Don Birkelbach, senior director of development for engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

Founded in 1919, Halliburton is one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry. With more than 50,000 employees in approximately 70 countries, the company serves the upstream oil and gas industry throughout the lifecycle of the reservoir – from locating hydrocarbons and managing geological data, to drilling and formation evaluation, well construction and completion, and optimizing production through the life of the field.

Fall 2009 enrollment at Texas A&M’s main campus at College Station reached a record 48,787 on the fifth class day, a number likely to change only slightly before the 20th class day, the official period for certification by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Dwight Look College of Engineering is currently ranked 8th in graduate and 9th in undergraduate programs among public universities by U.S. News and World Report.

Written by Exa York

Popularity: unranked [?]

William “Bill” Coskey, chairman and CEO of ENGlobal Corp. and a graduate of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Texas A&M University, was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Award in the Energy Services category for the Houston and Gulf Coast Area.

William "Bill" Coskey

According to Ernst & Young LLP, the awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Coskey was selected as a finalist from nearly 550 nominations by a panel of independent judges. He was among four distinguished finalists in the Energy Services category.

As a Houston and Gulf Coast Area award winner, Coskey is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 national program. Award winners will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif., Nov. 14.

Coskey founded ENGlobal Corp. in 1985 and has been its Chief Executive Officer since April 3, 2007. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and a member of the Instrument Society of America. Coskey also has served on the department’s Advisory Council since 1999 and he currently is chair of the council. He received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1975 from Texas A&M where he was an honors graduate.

ENGlobal provides engineering, automation, construction, land and regulatory services principally to the energy sector throughout the United States and internationally. The company employs approximately 2,200 employees in 20 offices and occupies more than 500,000 square feet of office and fabrication space. ENGlobal has been named one of the fastest growing engineering firms in the United States and Canada by ZweigWhite in each of the past six years. Further information about the company and its businesses is available at www.ENGlobal.com.

Celebrating its 23rd anniversary, Ernst & Young`s Entrepreneur Of The Year Award is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

To see more about the award, visit http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS84099+22-Jun-2009+BW20090622.

Written by Deana Totzke, deana@ece.tamu.edu

Popularity: 52% [?]

Texas A&M mechanical engineering graduate Khalid A. Al-Falih, Class of 1982, was appointed president and CEO of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company.

Mr. Khalid A. Al-Falih (who earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M in 1982) was appointed CEO and President of Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company.

Saudi Aramco has a revenue of almost $200 billion and produces around 3.2 billion barrels of crude oil each year.

Al-Falih joined the company in 1979 and was sponsored to study at Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1982.

During his time at Saudi Aramco, Al-Falih has held senior positions in the oil and gas sectors in the areas of exploration, production, refining and international operations. Al-Falih has been a member of the board of directors and serves as chairman of the board of the newly formed South Rub’ al-Khali joint venture between Shell, Total and Saudi Aramco.

Besides being a member of professional societies such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the International Association for Energy Economics and Oxford Energy Policy Club, Al-Falih is a board member of many vocational and social institutions such as the Technical and Vocational Training Corp., Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Fund for supporting small business projects for women and the Eastern Province Society for the Handicapped.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Summer in College Station means it's time for Survey Camp for some civil engineering students.

Some say summer is the best time to be in College Station, Texas.

With many of the 45,000 Texas A&M students away, College Station’s roads and restaurants are less crowed, and parking is abundant. This year 27 students got to enjoy the perks of summertime in College Station while they participated in one of the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering’s greatest traditions: Survey Camp.

During Survey Camp, students team work with practicing surveyors and use their equipment out in the field.

Survey Camp is an Old Army tradition that was discontinued in the 1980s only to be reinstated in 2002 with a whole new structure. The 21st century Survey Camp, CVEN 403: Civil Engineering Surveying Practical Experience, is a two-week course between the spring and summer semesters that consists of six days in the computer lab and five days out at Texas A&M University’s Riverside Campus. Each day is at least eight hours long and full of hands-on experience with surveying and map preparation. Teams of four students get to work with practicing surveyors and use their equipment out in the field.

“I got a lot more out of the field work,” said Sara Diaz ’10. “[We] learn[ed] more from it getting to work with real surveyors.”

Carlos Cotton, the chief operating officer at Jones & Carter Inc. and an instructor for Survey Camp, says he believes that the camp provides a necessary foundation for any engineer.

Studetns use computer programs to use data collected to develop topographical maps and draw boundary and plat maps.

“I tell the students that all successful engineering projects begin with good surveying (topographical surveys) and end with good surveying (construction staking),” Cotton said. “While this course can’t make expert surveyors, it does teach them how surveying is applied to engineering projects and what they need to know in order to review survey data.”

In the computer lab students learn software such as AutoCAD and Carlson Survey. The students use these programs to take data collected from the field and develop topographical maps and to draw boundary and plat maps.

“Hopefully this course will also inspire some graduating engineers to pursue a surveying career and work towards a dual registration in engineering and surveying,” Cotton said.

Survey Camp, 1892

Written by Cassidy Thomas

Popularity: 32% [?]

Engineering graduates Edward C. “Pete” Aldridge Jr., Class of 1960, of Arlington, Va., and the late Frederick W. Heldenfels Jr., Class of 1933, are among six recipients of the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas A&M University and The Association of Former Students.

Aldridge received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Texas A&M and went on to earn a Master’s degree in the same field from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1962. During his time at Texas A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Institute of Aerospace Sciences, Sigma Gamma Tau Aerospace Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the Shreveport Hometown Club.

Aldridge’s distinguished 42-year career began in 1961 with Douglas Aircraft Company, and included 18 years of service in the Pentagon — first as an operations research analyst, as the director of Planning and Evaluation under Donald Rumsfeld during his first tour as Secretary of Defense, as Under Secretary and then Secretary of the Air Force under President Ronald Reagan, and finally as the under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics under President George W. Bush. He also served as president of McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems Company from 1988-1992 and as president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation from 1992-2001.

Aldridge was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, presented the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association and has served as a volunteer and contributor to dozens of educational and nonprofit organizations. He is an Honorary Fellow and Past President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Aldridge has been actively involved with Texas A&M, having donated generously to the Department of Aerospace Engineering and as an Endowed Century Club member with The Association of Former Students.

Heldenfels graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. As a student, he participated in the Corps of Cadets and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

Heldenfels joined the family business in 1933 and with his brother, Tony Heldenfels, Class of 1935, led the lumber business started by his father and uncle to become one of the largest contractors for public and private construction projects in South Texas. He was named Chairman of the Board of Heldenfels Brothers, Inc. in 1978 and remained so until his death in 1992.

Active and influential within the construction industry, he served as president of both the Associated General Contractors of Texas and the Associated General Contractors of America. He served as a board member for the Del Mar College Board of Regents for 24 years and as its president for 10 years. In recognition of his service to the school, the administration building was named for him in 1982.

Heldenfels served on the Board of Directors of the Texas A&M Research Foundation and was an active supporter of The Association of Former Students and the 12th Man Foundation.

Established in 1962, the Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University. Since its inception, 190 individuals have been recognized for their significant contributions to their professions, Texas A&M University and their local communities.

“The Aggies recognized this year with our Distinguished Alumnus Award are each a testimonial of Texas A&M’s core values put into action through their personal and professional lifetime achievements,” said Texas A&M University President Elsa A. Murano. “While each and every one of the more than 300,000 former students of Texas A&M has a unique chapter in our university’s history, this year’s recipients exemplify the Aggie Spirit across our state and country, as well as around the world. I applaud this year’s Distinguished Alumni, and celebrate their accomplishments
along with their families and friends.”

The recipients learned of their honor when surprised in their places of business and other locations by a group of University and Association representatives, including Texas A&M President Dr. Elsa Murano; The Association of Former Students’ 2009 Chair of the Board of Directors Shelley Potter, Class of 1978; Association President and CEO Porter S. Garner III, Class of 1979; Association Vice President Marty Holmes, Class of 1987; a Ross Volunteer; along with Reveille and her handler, John Busch, Class of 2011.

“The Aggies recognized with this award are distinguished certainly because of their life’s accomplishments,” said 2009 Association Chair Shelley Potter, Class of 1978. “I am most impressed, however, by the way they conduct their lives and the legacy of selfless service they leave for future generations.”

The Association’s President and CEO, Porter S. Garner III, Class of 1978, echoed the sentiments of Dr. Murano and Shelley Potter and offered his congratulations on behalf of the Aggie Network.

“Our 2009 Distinguished Alumni represent a cross-section of life experiences and achievements as diverse and inspiring as the Aggie Network itself,” Garner said. “They all, however, share a deep commitment to Texas A&M and the unique and unrivaled Aggie Spirit.”

The Association of Former Students will further honor Texas A&M University’s 2009 Distinguished Alumni in formal events and ceremonies throughout the year. The Association will honor all recipients of this award during its annual Distinguished Alumni Gala October 9, 2009. In addition, the 2009 recipients will be hosted for dinner by Dr. Elsa Murano and will be recognized during the Fall 2009 Freshman Convocation in August.

The Association of Former Students, established in 1879, is the official alumni organization of Texas A&M University. The Association connects the 450,000 members of the worldwide Aggie Network with each other and the university, and provides more than $4.7 million a year in funding for scholarships, awards, activities and enrichment for students, faculty, staff and former students. For more information about the Distinguished Alumnus Award and The Association of Former Students, visit http://www.AggieNetwork.com/DistinguishedAlumni/ or contact Kathryn Greenwade, KGreenwade88@AggieNetwork.com.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Edward C. "Pete" Aldridge Jr., Class of 1960

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University honored Edward C. “Pete” Aldridge Jr. ’60 as the first recipient of the Aerospace Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Aldridge was honored at a reception at the Miramont Country Club April 28. He also received The Association of Former Students Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2009. These awards recognize his numerous accomplishments in a career of exceptional nationally important service and leadership.

The event was attended by university leaders including President Elsa Murano as well as nationally prominent colleagues, including former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. Also in attendance were eight of the first 11 Aerospace Engineering undergraduate recipients of the E.C. “Pete” Aldridge Scholarships.

Aldridge and his wife JoAnne K. “Jody” Aldridge currently reside in Arlington, Va., where he serves on several corporate boards, including Lockheed Martin Corp.

Aldridge earned his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Texas A&M In 1960 and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in 1962. As a student at Texas A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Institute of Aerospace Sciences, Tau Beta Pi and the Shreveport Hometown Club. He served as AFROTC Group Sergeant Major and Treasurer of Sigma Gamma Tau.

Distinguished Professor and Wisenbaker Chair John L. Junkins, Aldridge and wife JoAnne, Professor Walt Haisler and Interim Department Head Dimitris Lagoudas

Aldridge retired from government service and industry in May 2003. In his career, he served as special advisor to the Secretary of Defense and was appointed by the president to the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

Aldridge was previously president and CEO of The Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo, Calif., from 1992-2001; president of McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems Co. in McLean, Va., from 1988-1992; Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., from 1986-1988; astronaut in training for 1986 Shuttle Launch (cancelled as a result of Challenger Accident) from 1985-1986; Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force from 1981-1986; director of the  National Reconnaissance Office in the U.S. Deptartment of Defense from 1981 to 1988; vice president of Systems Planning Corp. in Roslyn, Va., from 1977 to 1981; director of the Office of Planning and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, from 1974 to 1977; manager of the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, from 1973 to 1974; manager, LTV Corp. in Grand Prairie, Texas, from 1972 to 1973; operations research analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Systems Analysis) from 1967 to 1972; advisor for strategic arms limitation talks for the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Helsinki (Finland) and Vienna (Austria) from 1970 to 1972; and advanced systems engineer for Douglas Aircraft Co. in Santa Monica, Calif., from 1961 to 1967.

In his career, Aldridge

• Was responsible for the acquisition and support strategies and policies of all weapon systems by the Department of Defense, including management of four major defense agencies: Missile Defense Agency, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Defense Acquisition University;

• Led efforts for transformation of the Department of Defense, initiated by Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld;

• Directed a Joint Capabilities Planning Study, focused on improved “joint” military force planning process within the Department of Defense, requested by the Secretary of Defense;

• Was considered “Mr. Space” in the Department of Defense and intelligence communities;

• Established the “Mixed Fleet” Space Launch Strategy, which resulted in assured access to space after Challenger and other launch accidents;

• Was the longest serving director of the National Reconnaissance Office (eight years), the organization responsible for developing, launching and operation of intelligence and reconnaissance satellites for the United States;

• Named by President Bush as chairman of the President’s Commission on Implementation of the U.S. Space Exploration Policy (the Moon to Mars exploration vision);

• Served on key government advisory boards and commissions, including the Defense Science Board, NASA Advisory Committee on the Future of the U.S. Space Program, National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, and National Space Council Space Policy Advisory Board;

• Named by the Secretary of Defense to lead a Planning and Evaluation Office, tasked with developing the Five-Year Defense Plan for the Department of Defense;

• Led professional organizations as president and Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, president of Security Affairs Support Organization, and chairman of the High Technology Council of the Economic Development Corp. of Los Angeles;

• Made numerous speeches during government service and industry employment, including congressional testimony supporting government programs and policy;

His professional experience has led to being elected to serve currently on the boards of Lockheed Martin Corp., Global Crossing Ltd., and Alion Science and Technology. Past board memberships includes United Industrial Corp., C. S. Draper Laboratories, ERIM International, Sybase Inc., the National Space Club, Air Force Falcon Foundation and the U.S. Space Foundation.

Academic memberships include Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Gamma Tau and Sigma Xi. He has been elected as an Honorary Member of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team.

Among his honors are
• Elected a Member of the National Academy of Engineering, 2007
• Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, awarded by the National Aeronautic Association, 2005
• U.S. Space Foundation James Hill Lifetime Achievement Award, 2005
• Texas A&M College of Engineering Honor Alumnus, 1985
• Texas A&MCorps of Cadets Hall of Honor, 1998
• Georgia Institute of Technology Engineering Hall of Fame, 1996
• National Aeronautic Association Wright Brothers Award, 2005
• Ronald Reagan Missile Defense Award, 2007
•; U.S. Space Foundation Lifetime Space Achievement, 2005
• American Astronautical Society Lifetime Achievement, 2004
• NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, 2004
• Secretary of Defense Civilian Service Award, 1972
• Scientific American Top 50 Award, 2004
• National Space Club Robert H. Goddard Trophy, 1987
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Goddard Astronautics Award, 2004
• International Society of Logistics Jack Williams Space Logistics Medal, 2004

Additionally, a Google search of Aldridge will return more than 55,000 articles on career accomplishments and personal news events, and The Aerospace Corp. headquarters building in El Segundo, Calif., is named after him.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Honorees Morris E. Foster '65 (left) and James E. Wiley Sr. '46 (right), with Dr. G. Kemble Bennett, vice chancellor and dean of engineering.

The Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University has honored two former students with the 2009 Outstanding Alumni Honor Awards.

Morris E. Foster ’65 and James E. Wiley Sr. ’46 were recognized and presented their awards at a banquet April 2 at the Miramont Country Club in Bryan, Texas.

Morris E. Foster ’65, formerly president of ExxonMobil Production Co. in Houston, graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in mechanical engineering. The Belton native joined Exxon after graduation, serving in several capacities in production engineering and management in California, Louisiana and Texas. In 1995, Foster was appointed senior vice president and a member of the management committee of Exxon Co. USA. In 1998, he was appointed president of Exxon Upstream Development Co., and following the merger with Mobil, was named president of the ExxonMobil Development Co. In 2004, he was named president of Exxon Mobil Production Co. and vice president of the Exxon Mobil Corp.

A Distinguished Graduate of Texas A&M University, Foster was appointed to the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System in 2007 by Texas Gov. Rick Perry. His term expires Feb. 1, 2013.

Foster is a member of the American Petroleum Institute, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Texas Oil and Gas Association. He serves on the board of the Scott & White Medical Institute, the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, the Greater Houston Partnership and the First State Bank of Temple, Texas.

Foster was honored “in recognition of his outstanding achievements in leadership and management at the highest levels of corporate performance, of his considerable contributions in producing and developing the world’s energy resources, of his generous support of mechanical engineering education, and of his selfless service to The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.”

James E. Wiley Sr. ’46 was just 16 years old when he became “Fish Wiley” at the all-male, all-military Texas A&M in 1942. While at Texas A&M, he played on the freshman football team in 1942, varsity football team in 1943 and was also on the varsity track team. Wiley left college in 1944 to serve as an Army lieutenant in World War II and returned to Texas A&M to finish his civil engineering degree –– the first in his family to earn a college degree. After graduation, Wiley went to work for a general contractor, and in 1960, joined his brother A.P. to form Wiley Bros. General Contractors.

Since first attending Texas A&M, Wiley has remained faithful to the university. He may have been the first, but today, three generations of Wileys are Aggies following in his footsteps. The university named him a Distinguished Alumni 1990 and in 2000, he became a Distinguished Graduate of the civil engineering department.

The Wiley family has been very generous to Texas A&M, providing a faculty chair, scholarships, and other gifts; most notably, endowing the prestigious, student-run Wiley Lecture Series.

Wiley was honored “in recognition of his exceptional and proven leadership from an early age and throughout life, of his many entrepreneurial successes in the construction and investment businesses, of his tireless yet unassuming generosity to numerous organizations across this great University, and of his unabashed devotion to the students served by Texas A&M and their educational excellence.”

To see the full list of outstanding alumni honor awards, please click here

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William Michael Barnes ’64 is the inaugural recipient of the Texas Council of Industrial Engineering Academic Department Heads Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to him April 2 at the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering annual awards banquet. Presenters were Dr. Brett Peters, head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M, and Hamid Parsaei, chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Houston and chair of the Texas CIEADH.

Barnes earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering in 1964 and 1966; and a Ph.D. in operations research in 1968, all at Texas A&M. Early in his career, Barnes served as expert consultant to the assistant postmaster in Washington, D. C. He also served for a while as an instructor of maintainability engineering for Texas A&M at the U.S. Army Logistics Training Center, and as a visiting professor of computer science at Southern Methodist University.

In 1968, Barnes joined Collins Radio as a member of the Corporate Operations Research Staff. Collins was acquired by Rockwell in 1971, and in 1972 Barnes was named director of finance for the Rockwell MOS/ Components Division. In 1973, he was promoted to vice President and general manager of Rockwell Collins Communications Switching Systems Division. From 1968-1989, he also served as liaison executive to the Allen Bradley Company, a leader in factory automation.

From 1991 until his retirement in 2001, Barnes served as senior vice president and CFO of Rockwell International. At the time of his retirement, Rockwell was a multibillion-dollar industrial manufacturing company with businesses in aerospace, defense electronics, semiconductor systems, factory automation products, automotive components, and graphic systems.

Barnes has served on numerous boards and councils, including Independent Colleges of Southern California, Orange County Business Council, A.O. Smith Corp., Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and Metro PCS. He was named an Outstanding Alumnus by the Dwight Look College of Engineering in 1992 and by the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in 2002. Barnes is a member of the Chancellor’s Century Council and serves on the college’s Engineering Advisory Council.

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The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering honored two former students, Darryl Heath ’84 and Dean Liollio ’83, at the department’s annual awards banquet at Pebble Creek Country Club on April 2.

Heath is a Managing Partner of Accenture, a leading global management and technology consulting and outsourcing firm.  He has been with Accenture nearly 24 years. He works with many different companies across several industry segments, including food and packaged goods, energy, and chemicals, among others.  He has spent much of his career helping clients implement large change programs, including ERP solutions, complex warehousing solutions, and supply chain planning solutions.

Heath’s current role involves leading all of Accenture’s activities globally with the PepsiCo Corporation, and its divisions of Pepsi Cola, Frito Lay, Quaker Oats, Gatorade, and Tropicana.  He has held account leadership roles with many other large companies in the past, including DuPont, The Home Depot, Chevron, Celanese Chemicals, and Mary Kay Cosmetics.  In addition to his client work, he teaches courses to Accenture professionals on leadership and work/family balance.

While at A&M, Heath was the Chairman of MSC Town Hall, a Fish Camp Chairman, and was a Buck Weirus award winner.  He previously served on the department’s Industrial Advisory Council and now serves as a member of the College of Engineering’s Advisory Board. He is a Director for the 12^th Man Foundation, participates in the MSC Spencer Leadership Conference, is the founding member of the Accenture sponsored Leadershape program within Student Affairs, and is the Accenture campus recruiting lead for Texas A&M.  Heath also serves as a past Board Chairman of Junior Achievement of Dallas, teaches the Junior Achievement curriculum to 4^th graders, and serves as President of the Athletic Booster Club for Grapevine High School.

Liollio began his career with Entex, a natural gas utility headquartered in Houston, shortly after graduation from Texas A&M.  After the company went through numerous mergers and he went through a career path that included six relocations, he progressed through what today is known as CenterPoint Energy to become the President & COO of its largest natural gas utility business unit, serving 2.3 million customers across 5 states with 3000 employees.  He served in this position from 1999 until his departure from CenterPoint in 2006.

In August of 2006 he became President and Chief Executive Officer of EnergySouth, Inc. a publicly traded company with both natural gas storage and utility businesses headquartered in Mobile, Alabama.  This company was sold to Sempra, Inc. in 2008, allowing Liollio to have a brief period of semi-retirement.

This past November he relocated back to Houston and brought his nearly 30 years of experience in the energy industry to Plains All American, where he became President of PAA Natural Gas Storage LLC., a joint venture between Plains All American and Vulcan Capital.

Liollio has been involved in numerous professional and civic organizations throughout his career.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern Gas Association, the Board of Directors of Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, Board of Trustees, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, and former Director of the American Gas Association, United Way of Southwest Alabama, Mobile Area Council Boy Scouts of America and Camp-Rap-A-Hope.  He graduated from the Louisiana State University Executive Education Program in 1997, and is a recent 2008 graduate of Leadership Alabama.

Liollio has served on the Industrial and Systems Engineering Advisory Council since 1998 and has been chairman for much of that time.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.

Also recognized at the event were departmental scholarship donors and recipients, as well as exceptional accomplishments by faculty, staff, and students.

The event is sponsored annually by Parsons Corporation.

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